Feleti Teo, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, said “the UN’s enduring presence is a testament to the transformative power of unity and the remarkable achievements made possible when nations join forces in a spirit of cooperation and unity of purpose.”  However, achieving peace, security and sustainable development will be of little value “if the poor and the most vulnerable are left behind”.  Noting that climate change and sea-level rise pose the greatest security threats to his country, he reiterated his “strong international advocation for the special case of Tuvalu as the most vulnerable of the most vulnerable countries” to the phenomena.

He welcomed the recent advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Convention regarding the obligations of States in relation to climate change.  These opinions, he noted, did not only affirm the principles of statehood continuity and the permanency of duly demarcated maritime boundaries, they transform political commitments to legally binding obligations.  “It is my hope that the urgency to address the existential threat of climate change and sea-level rise would not be overshadowed by the ongoing geopolitical competition between the superpowers and the military conflicts around the globe,” he stressed.

Supporting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative to phase out the use of fossil fuel, he called on all nations “that are serious about confronting the climate crisis to join this initiative and to act decisively to protect our planet and future generations”.  He noted that the session’s theme is more than a watchword, but a strong affirmation of partnership amid heightened challenges to multilateralism, emphasizing that: “Genuine and durable partnership is not a choice but a necessity.”  And because GDP alone does not reflect vulnerability, he urged international financial institutions to reconsider eligibility criteria that prevent vulnerable countries from accessing support.

On gender equality, in the context of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action, he highlighted that women’s rights are at the same time human rights and a foundation for sustainable development, peace and resilience.  Accordingly, Tuvalu women “are not only included, but are leading in decision-making spaces, from village councils to global negotiations”.  Likewise, young people, through deliberately engineered conditions, must be allowed to realize their full potential as innovators and active change agents in achieving the SDGs.  Further, he called for the admission of Taiwan into the UN and its agencies, and for the lifting of sanctions against Cuba, as well as its delisting as a State sponsor of terrorism.